TEMPE, AZ - OCTOBER 12: Quarterback Sefo Liufau #13 of the Colorado Buffaloes throws a pass during the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on October 12, 2013 in Tempe, Arizona.

TEMPE, Ariz. — This Saturday at noon, Colorado’s Sefo Liufau will become the fifth true freshman in school history to start at quarterback. Whether he keeps the job will help determine when Mike MacIntyre’s program gets off the Pac-12 mat.

The first-year CU coach has more issues than wins with his 2-3 (0-3 Pac-12) team. The defense has become defenseless. No go-to tailback has stepped up. The Buffaloes go entire halves without getting the ball to their best player, junior wide receiver Paul Richardson.

But no issue is bigger than finding a dynamic quarterback.

Connor Wood erased his superb start to the season with erratic performances in three Pac-12 blowout losses. Midway through the first quarter of Saturday night’s 54-13 loss to Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium, MacIntyre finally decided the future is now.

In came Liufau. And one sharp, heady, 80-yard touchdown drive later, CU had a new starting quarterback.

“It’s just like high school football to me,” Liufau said after the game. “After the first couple of plays, everything slowed down. It was fun to play.”

Liufau commited to CU when Jon Embree was coaching the Buffs. MacIntyre liked Liufau so much, he did more than honor his commitment. He saw the future in the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder who threw for 7,297 yards and 68 touchdowns and led Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash., to a 34-5 record.

Liufau’s accuracy and calm demeanor impressed the new CU coaching staff from the first day of August camp. Against the Sun Devils, on that first drive, he did it for real.

“He handled himself really well,” said Nelson Spruce, who caught Liufau’s 10-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive. “That first drive, he was calm, making all the throws that we needed. He kept his composure really well for his first time.”

MacIntyre could hook his future on Liufau’s right arm, but he said after the game that he hasn’t given up on Wood, a junior. While Liufau is CU’s new starter, the coach added, “He’s got to play good, though.”

It’s clear that MacIntyre lost patience with Wood, whose leash in the Arizona State game lasted all of three series and four incompletions, including an interception. In Pac-12 games, Wood has been mediocre, completing just 25-of-71 (.352) passes for 351 yards, two touchdowns and five picks. In the past two games, he was 0-for-18 on third down.

Even with Liufau’s 169 yards on 18-of-26 passing, CU is last in the Pac-12 in total offense, averaging 375.2 yards per game.

And remember, the Buffs will be led by a true freshman who will play like it on occasion. In the second half against the Sun Devils’ backups, Liufau threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and had an intentional grounding call result in a safety.

“He had a couple mistakes,” MacIntyre said. “But to me, he looked pretty calm. He made some good third-down plays. He made some good throws. It didn’t look like it was too big for him. From the naked eye, I thought it was good. But he had a couple turnovers that we don’t need to have.”

CU’s season is far from lost. Next up is Charleston Southern, a 7-0 team — but an FCS team that has never defeated an FBS (formerly Division I-A) opponent in 13 tries.

“If we can beat them and be 3-3, it’d be nice to be 3-3 at the end of October,” MacIntyre said. “You keep moving and improving. You never know.”

For the record: Charleston Southern is 7-0 after beating Virginia Military Institute 25-17 on the road to open Big South Conference play.

Streaking: The Buccaneers have won seven consecutive games for the first time since starting the 2006 season 9-0.

Who’s hot: Redshirt freshman quarterback Danny Croghan III has started two games in place of injured senior Malcolm Dixon and is 31-of-50 passing for 396 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Who’s not: Christian Reyes, with 684 yards in six games and needing 94 more to top Vinson Blain’s school season rushing record of 777 yards set in 1998, gained only 45 yards on 11 carries against VMI.

Key stat: Charleston Southern has lost all 13 games it has played against FBS (formerly Division I-A) teams. The average score of the losses: 55-9.

FYI: First-year Buccaneers coach Jamey Chadwell returned to Charleston Southern after four years as head coach at Delta State and North Greenville, both Division II programs. His career record is 32-21. He previously served as an assistant for five years at Charleston Southern, which started football in 1991 as a Division III independent.

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